UConn's Stewart on USA women's roster

Updated 4:36 pm, Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Connecticut forward Breanna Stewart (30) holds a piece of the net after defeating Louisville 93-60 in the national championship game of the women's Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Photo: Bill Haber, Associated Press

Connecticut forward Breanna Stewart (30) holds a piece of the net...

Texas A&M's Karla Gilbert (34) and Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) battle for a rebound during the first half of their regional final in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Monday March 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

Texas A&M's Karla Gilbert (34) and Connecticut's Breanna...

Connecticut's Breanna Stewart, right, pushes past Saint Joseph's Ashley Robinson, left, during the second half of a second-round game of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

"The 27 who have been invited represent a cross section of what the USA National Team is ultimately all about,'' Auriemma said in a statement. "It's some of the best players in the world. It's a combination of past Olympic and World Championship gold medalists.

"It's also young players who have also won gold medals at various levels of USA Basketball, pros in the WNBA, college players, veterans and rookies and everything in between. I think we're going to be able to pick a 12-player roster that's going to be as good as any team we've ever had.''

The final 12-member USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team will be named prior to the start of the FIBA World Championship, which will be held Sept. 27-Oct. 5 in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey.

Hartley and Connecticut Sun star Chiney Ogwumike were invited to join the USA National Team by the USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee, which will also select the 2014 USA World Championship Team.

"Coming out of college last year, two of the best players in college basketball, they distinguished themselves over four years playing at the highest level and now they've gone onto play in the WNBA as rookies,'' Auriemma said. "With Chiney in Connecticut, I've had a chance to follow her progress. She's been absolutely amazing and no one competes harder than Chiney does. Bria's gone to Washington and played a great role in helping them make the playoffs this year with such a young roster that they have.''

The players who are not playing in the WNBA Finals will participate in training camp at the U.S. Naval Academy Sept. 8-10. The U.S. will host the USA Basketball Women's National Team Showcase, a Red vs. White intrasquad game Sept. 11 at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center (7 p.m.; ESPN2) and will face Canada and UConn incoming freshman Kia Nurse at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport Sept 15 (7 p.m.; ESPN2).